Cedar Rapids Kernels fall to Lansing, but Colton Davis keeps impressive relief streak intact

CEDAR RAPIDS — There was an ill-fated spot start about a month ago, but that's been about the only thing that hasn't gone well for Colton Davis.

The pitcher has been a zero hero for the Cedar Rapids Kernels this season, particularly in the last three months. He continued quite an impressive streak Monday afternoon with a shutout relief inning in his club's 3-1 loss to Lansing at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Davis has not allowed an earned run in his last 22 appearances out of the bullpen and given up only one run, period, in that span of 31 1/3 innings. The last time a team nicked him was way back on May 10.

'I wasn't aware of that, no,' Davis said. 'It's mostly just going into the game trying to pump strikes. Early in the year, I was trying to miss bats, but (now it's) just throwing strikes, trying to let them hit it where they hit it and let my defense work. That's been helping me.'

The Kernels have had 'staff pitching days' at times, which prompted Davis to get a start June 27. He gave up four runs in three innings.

But out of the pen, he's been absolute money, mostly working in a late-inning tandem with Hector Lujan. Davis has a season earned run average of 1.75 to Lujan's 1.59. They have combined for seven wins and 11 saves.

'I think we kind of feed off of each other, both have been pitching pretty well,' said Davis, a right-hander from Western Carolina University. 'We just follow each other, try to get outs and do what we can to help our team win games.'

'I think one thing for Colton is just attacking the zone with his fastball,' said Kernels Manager Tommy Watkins. 'There was one outing he threw early this year where he was just spinning some breaking balls up there. Which isn't a bad thing, but the type of pitcher I see him as is one that throws his fastball in the zone early, because he has a good fastball, then throws his breaking ball.'

The Kernels (53-48, 14-17) dropped the finale of this three-game series, seeing a three-game win streak snapped. They couldn't do anything offensively against Lansing starting pitcher Mike Ellenbest, who entered the game with a 7.43 ERA in 18 previous starts.

The Lugnuts scored all three of their runs, only one earned, in the first inning against Cedar Rapids starter Anthony Marzi. The Kernels had a golden chance to get back into the game in the eighth, loading the bases with none out.

A wild pitch then scored a run and moved the tying run into scoring position, but a strikeout, foul pop and groundout to the mound ended that threat in rather disappointing fashion.

The Midwest League has Tuesday off, then Cedar Rapids has a three-game road series at Peoria that begins Wednesday.

'Thought our at-bats were decent early,' Watkins said. 'We hit some balls hard right at them early. The middle innings, we went to sleep a little. Honestly, I didn't think (Ellenbest) had overpowering stuff or anything ... Then we had our chances there in the eighth.'

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